Brandon Archer was playing football with his friend Shane Biddle, and Shane's brother Owen, at Gibraltar Court, Barrack Road, Northampton, at about 6pm on Saturday, when the Labrador-bullmastiff cross ran out of a nearby flat and attacked him.

His top was ripped as the dog savaged him, tearing open both his arms, cutting the skin by his left eye and bruising him.

Shane alerted his father Craig, who managed to wrestle the dog off Brandon.

Emergency services were called and Brandon, from Kingsthorpe, was treated at Northampton General Hospital. He was due to have further treatment today.

Brandon said: "I don't really remember what happened. We were just playing football."

Brandon's mother Hazel, aged 41, said: "These dogs, they're not pets, they shouldn't be around children.

"The dog jumped at him, it attacked him and then kept going at him. It ripped his right arm open and went through to the tendon. He's got puncture marks too. It was a vicious attack.

"The woman who owned the dog said she was sorry but I didn't want to know. Sorry's not good enough, I could have lost my son."

The attack was reported to Northamptonshire Police. The dog was destroyed later on Saturday.

Mr Biddle, aged 30, said: "I heard Shane's voice. He was screaming, absolutely screaming. I ran and pounced on the dog to try to get it off but it kept going for Brandon. He looked at me and I could see the fear in his eyes.

"My son Owen had the door open so we managed to get the kids away. All three of them are extremely lucky."

The owner of the dog did not want to talk about the incident but said she was "devastated" by what had happened.